Dutch protesters demand end to fur farming after coronavirus outbreak
A demonstrator holds an image of a mink during a protest calling for an end to the fur trade, following the decision of the Dutch government to cull thousands of mink on farms where animals are infected with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in The Hague, Netherlands, June 8, 2020. REUTERS/Eva Plevier
More than 100 people calling for an end to fur farming protested in front of the Dutch parliament on Monday following an outbreak of coronavirus on mink farms that has led to a cull of tens of thousands of the animals.
The protesters, many wearing face masks with animal rights slogans, held images of mink in cages and called on the government to move a 2024 ban on fur farms forward and close them immediately.
Coronavirus has been found on 10 of the 140 remaining Dutch mink farms.
An image of a mink is seen during a protest calling for an end to the fur trade, following the decision of the Dutch government to cull thousands of mink on farms where animals are infected with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in The Hague, Netherlands, June 8, 2020. REUTERS/Eva Plevier
The government last week ordered mink on all infected farms to be killed over fears they could act as a long-term reservoir of the disease for humans.
Last month, the government identified two cases in which humans were infected by mink, the only animal-to-human transmissions known since the global outbreak began in China.
The outbreak on Dutch farms originated with handlers and was first identified in April.
A demonstrator wearing a protective face mask attends a protest calling for an end to the fur trade, following the decision of the Dutch government to cull thousands of mink on farms where animals are infected with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in The Hague, Netherlands, June 8, 2020. REUTERS/Eva Plevier
Farms where no infection has been found intend to continue operations.
The Netherlands exports an estimated 90 million euros($101 million) worth of mink fur annually. Other major mink fur producers include Denmark, Poland and China.
A demonstrator holds a sign during a protest calling for an end to the fur trade, following the decision of the Dutch government to cull thousands of mink on farms where animals are infected with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in The Hague, Netherlands, June 8, 2020. REUTERS/Eva Plevier
(Reporting by Toby Sterling; Editing by Janet Lawrence)
Demonstrators hold images of mink during a protest calling for an end to the fur trade, following the decision of the Dutch government to cull thousands of mink on farms where animals are infected with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in The Hague, Netherlands, June 8, 2020. REUTERS/Eva PlevierPeople attend a protest calling for an end to the fur trade, following the decision of the Dutch government to cull thousands of mink on farms where animals are infected with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in The Hague, Netherlands, June 8, 2020. REUTERS/Eva PlevierDemonstrators hold images of mink during a protest calling for an end to the fur trade, following the decision of the Dutch government to cull thousands of mink on farms where animals are infected with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in The Hague, Netherlands, June 8, 2020. REUTERS/Eva PlevierA demonstrator wearing a protective face mask holds a sign during a protest calling for an end to the fur trade, following the decision of the Dutch government to cull thousands of mink on farms where animals are infected with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in The Hague, Netherlands, June 8, 2020. REUTERS/Eva Plevier NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES.A demonstrator wearing a protective face mask attends a protest calling for an end to the fur trade, following the decision of the Dutch government to cull thousands of mink on farms where animals are infected with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in The Hague, Netherlands, June 8, 2020. REUTERS/Eva PlevierA demonstrator wearing a protective face mask attends a protest calling for an end to the fur trade, following the decision of the Dutch government to cull thousands of mink on farms where animals are infected with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in The Hague, Netherlands, June 8, 2020. REUTERS/Eva Plevier
Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
